Surface covering and process of ornamenting the same



Sept. 20; 1927. 1 42,955

0. F. HUMPHRE YS ET AL SURFACE COVERING AND PROCESS OF ORNAMENTING THE SAME Filed Jan. 22, 1927 Patented Sept. 20, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,642,955 PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES F. HUMPHREYS ANT) JOHN C. MCCARTHY, 0F LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO ARMSTRONG CORK COMPANY, OF LANCASTER, PENNSYLVANIA, A

CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

SURFACE COVERING AND PROCESS OF ORNAMENTING THE SAME.

Application filed January 22, 1927. Serial. No. 162,807.

The present invention relates to surface coverings and the process of ornamentlng the same, and more especially to the ornamentation of so-called plain linoleum. We have found that if a plain linoleum has 1ts surface formed with indentations, the light and shade so produced will bring out a patv tern into relief. Moreover, when a flat sheet of linoleum has grooves indented therein, the surface texture of the indentations 1s changed from that ofthe unindented portion, so that an a pearance of some color contrast .may be 0 tained with a plain or mono-colored linoleum. When the hnoleurn is waxed, the tendency toward thicker waxing in the rooves tends to accentuate a color contrast between the grooves and the smooth undepressed surface.

The present invention is particularly adapted to the formation of t1le patterns on plain linoleums and is illustrated as so embodied, although it will be apparent that other atterns may be formed.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a piece of plain linoleum embodying our invention.

Fig. 2 is a section along the line IIII of Flg. 1.

gig. 3 is a plan view of a mod fication; an

Fig. 4 is a section along the line IV IV of Fig. 3.

Referring to the embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawings, reference numeral 1 indicates apiece of plain linoleum. This linoleum is made the usual way, consisting of a burlap ba'ckmgQ, having a consolidated layer 3 of a linoleum mix containing the usual ground cork, wood flour and linseed oil and resin binder. After the linoleum is made in the usual way, a pattern is indented in it by means of a ribbed embossing-plate. Asshown in Fig.

1, a tile pattern is embossed consisting of the depressions or grooves 4, which simulate mortar joints between the undepressed tile-like spaces 5.

The linoleum may first be consolidated into a smooth sheet, and then the depressions or grooves indented into it by a ribbed plate or roller, or the depressions may be ormed during the consolidating operation by a consolidating roller or plate. The indenting of the lmoleum, and particularly whenthis is done after the linoleum is first consolidated into a smooth sheet, gives the surface of the depressions a difl'erent texture or finish from the undepressed portions. In making a smooth sheet of plain linoleum, the linoleum mix is consolidated by a calendering operation, in which a certain amount of slip of the calender roll over the surface of the linoleum takes place. This slip tends to give the surface of the linoleum a smooth polished finish. When this linoleum is placed under an embossing plate or roller, the indenting ribs press down into the linoleum and serve to stretch and compress the surface beneath them. This operation alters the character of the surface from the smooth or polished calendered surface into a rougher and more mat finished surface. This different surface finishing, in conjunction with the light and shade afforded by the depressions, gives the depressions a somewhat difi'erent color than the undepressed portions. It therefore tends to create an illusion of 'color difference on a plain or mono-colored linoleum. Moreover, as above pointed out, the surface texture is somewhat rougher. In the case of tile pattern linoleum, this tends toward an illusion of smooth-surfaced tiles separated" by the rougher surface of joints filled with mortar of a somewhat different shade than the color of the tiles.

In Fig. 1, the embossed pattern is that of square tiles separated by mortar joints. In Fig. 3, a tile pattern is shown having tiles of irregular size and disposition, the appearance of mortar joints between the tiles 5 being simulated by depressions 4.

It is preferred to form the indentations in the surface of the linoleum before the linoleum is cured and while the mix is in a plastic condition. However, the indentations may be formed in cured or semi-cured linoleum, if heated, but not, however, as satisfactorily as in an uncured linoleum. The linoleum mix yields to the pressure of the indenting ribs so. that the bottom of the linoleum is of a plane even surface for laying against the floor.

The undepressed spaces, such as the simulation of the tiles in Fig. 1, may be decorated if desired, as shown for instance in Fig. 1, by a bright colored printed decoration 6,- his d coration 6 is applied to the undepressed surface where it stands out strikingly, and as shown in Fig. 1, the plain by mortar joints.

The present invention relates particularly to plain linoleums, as contrasted with linoleums having inlaid color patterns or the linoleums having a color pattern printed over the entire or greater part of the surface. Plain linoleum made in accordance with our invention may have a certain amount of printed decoration upon the raised or undepressed portions, but the de pressed portions are not printed, but are of the natural color plain linoleum except as modified in color appearance by the difl'ercut surface texture afforded by the embossing operation.

The present invention may also be applied to linoleums made from intimately intermingled mixes of different shades, such as the so-called jaspe or granite linoleums. In making a jaspe linoleum, two or perhaps three 'ranular linoleum compositions are intimate y intermingled and applied to the burlap backing by a calendering roll which has a certain amount of slip to produce the well known jaspe or graining effect. In the so-called granite linoleums, the differently colored mixes are intermingled and the linolemn consolidated by a presser plate which does not give a graining effect.

While the invention has been illustrated as embodies in an indented tile pattern linoleum, other patterns may be indented, such for example, as floral designs. The invention is not therefore limited to its illustrated embodiment, but may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:

1. The process of ornamenting the surface of a lain, jaspe or granite linoleum, which consists in forming its surface with a depressed pattern.

2. The process of ornamenting the surface of a plain, jaspe or granite linoleum, which comprises indenting the surface of the linoleum and modifying the surface texture of the indented portions. 7

3. The process of ornamenting the surface accents of a plain, jaspe or granite linoleum, which comprises applying an indenting pressure over certain portions of the previously consolidated sheet of plain linoleum so as to form an indented pattern thereon.

4. The process of ornamenting the surface of a plain, jaspe or granite linoleum, which comprises forming depressions in the surface of the linoleum and printing decorations on undepressed surfaces thereof.

5. The process of ornamenting the surface of a plain linoleum, which comprises forming a smooth sheet of plain linoleum by a calendering operation so as to produce a smooth calendered finish, and thereafter applying an indenting pressure over certain portions of the surface so as to destroy the calendered finish and produce a rougher surface finish on the depressed portions.

6. As a new and completed article of manufacture, a plain, jaspe or granite lino-,

leum having certain portions thereof depressed, the depressed portions being of the color of the linoleum mix. y

7. As a new and completed article of manufacture, a plain, jaspe or granite linoleum having depressions formed therein of a surface texture different from that of the undepressed portions.

8. As a new and completed article of manufacture, a plain, j aspe or granite linoleum having certain portions depressed and having decorations printed on the undepressed portions.

9. As a new and completed article of manufacture, a plain or jaspe linoleum having depressions formed therein of a somewhat rougher surface texture than that of the undepressed portions. v

10. As a new and completed article of manufacture, a plain linoleum having a depressed pattern, the undepressed portion having a smooth calendered surface finish and the depressed portion having a rougher surface finish whereby an appearance of color difference is produced between the depressed and undepressed portions.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto set our hand. 3 1

CHARLES F. HUMPHREYS. JOHN C. MCCARTHY. 

